NHL Trade Talk Heating Up

This post about NHL trade talk is based on credible reports by hockey’s most plugged-in media outlets.

In just over one week’s time, the NHL schedule will break and the league’s top players will cross the water to participate in the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. While the NHL’s finest are overseas there will be a trade freeze here in North America – no players can be traded during this time. In lead up to the trade freeze that begins on February 7th and ends on the 23rd, there is a lot of trade buzz in the air. Some NHL general managers would like to make beneficial moves before Jan. 7, allowing their new acquisition(s) ample time to acclimatize to new surroundings.

Do you read 30 Thoughts? Of course you do. It’s a brilliant weekly piece published by Hockey Night In Canada‘s Elliott Friedman. In his latest edition, which can be read here, Friedman points out that the St. Louis Blues had interest in acquiring Islanders sniper Thomas Vanek back in October when the Austrian winger was first made available by the Buffalo Sabres. The implication is: hey, the Blues may still be interested.

The St. Louis Blues franchise has never won the Stanley Cup since its establishment in 1967. This year the Blues are a top contender, thus, trade speculation involving St. Louis is abundant.

One report suggests the Blues may be interested in acquiring the services of Rangers captain and pending UFA, Ryan Callahan. The rumour is largely based in guess-work, spawned by intel gained by TSN: Apparently the Rangers are inquiring about, or seeking information on, Blues power-forward Chris Stewart. More on this from Pierre LeBrun of ESPN via Darren Dreger.

Speaking of TSN Insider Darren Dreger, yesterday he uncovered that Callahan’s agent has been granted permission to talk with one NHL team. There is no concrete evidence revealing which team is so hotly in pursuit of Callahan that contract extension talk has been granted, but this piece of information certainly makes clear that the Rangers will trade their captain for the right return.

Developing story, NYR grant permission to at least 1 team who has already talked with Callahan's agent. More on Sportscentre. #TSN

The Blues have also been linked to Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller throughout the season. Miller will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2013-14 season if he is not signed before then. The Sabres are in the midst of a massive rebuild, leaving many to believe there is no chance Miller decides to stick around for another few years of bottom-feeding development. The former Vezina trophy winner and Olympic silver medalist is one of the top elite netminders in hockey – his addition would make nearly any NHL contender stronger.

The Blues enjoy solid goaltending from Jaroslav Halak and Brian Elliott, however, neither is on Miller’s level, and both also become UFAs this summer; there is no obligation to either, long-term. This means a St. Louis Blues goalie trade would be somewhat easy to complete without needing to worry about existing contracts beyond the remainder of this season.

Yesterday, on TSN1050 Radio, it was reported by Dreger that the Toronto Maple Leafs don’t plan on re-signing Russian Olympian Nik Kulemin after this season. The Leafs may instead try and move Kulemin’s contract in the near future, as they struggle to find cap room for the returning David Bolland and Clarkson. Read more here, courtesy of The Score‘s Ian McLaren.

According to Louis Jean of TVA Sports, the Canadiens declined an offer that would’ve seen P-A Paranteau of the Colorado Avalanche join the Habs in exchange for Rene Bourque.

#Habs turn down trade that would have seen Bourque go to #Avs for Parenteau. #NHL

NHL trade talk is certainly heating up as the 2014 Winter Olympic break approaches. Many of the rumours in this post are public knowledge, and could occur in reality. That being said, there are so many variables in the salary cap era; it’s not as easy as: I’ll give you this guy and you give me that guy. Therefore, while there is possibly validity in these claims – there must be because the sources are credible – what actually ends up happening may not resemble the rumours.

NHL Lite News

Tampa Bay Lightning: Martin St. Louis wanted trade after Olympic snub

It has been reported by several media outlets that Tampa Bay Lightning captain Martin St. Louis asked to be traded when Bolts GM Steve Yzerman, who also played general manager for Team Canada’s gold medal winning team in Sochi, left…

Share this:

Like this:

New York Rangers: The Ryan Callahan Affair

Have you heard this? The New York Rangers and captain Ryan Callahan are in the middle of a contractual debate that could come to a close with a trade. Callahan becomes an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season, which…

Share this:

Like this:

Crosby and Stamkos to lead Team Canada’s offence in Sochi

In our celebrity obsessed society, it is always interesting when one icon reveals his/her thoughts about another. In Canada, there are few hockey players more popular than Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Steven Stamkos of the Tampa Bay…

Like this:

Wikipedia trades Ryan Miller to St. Louis Blues for Jaroslav Halak

Fantasy hockey general managers, St. Louis Blues fans, and Buffalo Sabres supporters were in disarray last night when Wikipedia posted that Ryan Miller had been traded for Jaroslav Halak and a 2nd round pick. The trade, of course, is not…

Like this:

Colorado Avalanche: Patrick Roy puts Giguere in his place

After the best start in franchise history – the Avalanche went (14-2) in their first 16 games – reality has caught up to Patrick Roy’s club. The St. Louis Blues and Chicago Blackhawks have blown by the Avs in the…

NHL News

Sharks choke in Kings’ sized comeback

The San Jose Sharks have completed a monumental choke job in the first-round of the 2014 Stanley Cup playoffs. They had a 3-0 series lead over the Los Angeles Kings, and blew it. Less than twenty-four-hours ago the Kings did…

Like this:

Columbus Blue Jackets win first playoff game in franchise history

The Columbus Blue Jackets organization has been in the National Hockey League since the beginning of the 2000-01 season, and before this past campaign they were in the Western Conference with one playoff series recorded – a 2009 sweep at…

Like this:

Dallas Stars forward Rich Peverley collapses in first period of game against the Columbus Blue Jackets

It was a scary scene at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas this past Monday. At 13:37 of the first period, Stars winger Rich Peverley collapsed into an unconscious state on the players’ bench. Action was halted and several…

Share this:

Like this:

Hockey Trends

NHL Trends: chrome Stadium Series logos

From January 25th to March 1st, 2014, seven NHL franchises will play in a string of outdoor games called the Stadium Series. As is always the case when the league showcases its talent out on the pond, special jerseys will…

Like this:

NHL Trends: hockey media sticking up for former NHL players with post-concussion syndrome

In his latest post for The Hockey News, Adam Proteau discussed former NHL enforcer Gino Odjick‘s stay in the psychiatric ward at a Quebec hospital, and how we as fans can do more to help ex-NHLers get proper help. Concerning…

Like this:

NHL Trends: Winter Classic arena construction live cam

The NHL Winter Classic is less than a month away and everything about the game is being documented on video. HBO‘s hit TV show 24/7 is in the filming stage and will debut in Canada on Sunday, the 15th of December. Meanwhile,…

Share this:

Like this:

NHL Trends: GTA suburban arena plans squashed

For a few years now, we’ve been hearing about an NHL team in Markham, Ontario. Tonight, the dream to see such fantasy take realistic form was temporarily squashed when Markham City Council voted 11-2 in opposition of GTA Sports &…

Share this:

Like this:

NHL Trends: Minnesota Wild sherpa blankets

Branding is a wonderful thing, and yesterday, the Minnesota Wild proved an NHL team can put its logo on just about anything with this “sherpa blanket” product, as seen in the tweet below: Bundle up with tonight's item of the…

Like this:

Follow The Hockey Daily on Twitter

THD – Calendar

Disclaimer

All quotes, images, links, tweets, videos and other third party materials displayed on The Hockey Daily dot com are used for entertainment purposes and are the sole property of their respective owners. Thank you for viewing thehockeydaily.com, and showing respect for the 3rd party contributors who make this website worthy of your time and attention.